Arch Iranian Med 2008; 11 (4): 477 – 481 History of Contemporary Medicine The Establishment and the First Four Decades of the Activities of the Pasteur Institute of Iran • Mohammad-Hossein Azizi MD *, Touraj Nayernouri MD** Abstract parts of the Qajar dynasty.3 In subsequent years, it The Pasteur Institute of Iran was inaugurated on served as an influential research and educational August 24, 1921 in Tehran. This new institution was center. established on the request of the Iranian government with the agreement and scientific The Pasteur Institute of Paris support of the French authorities under the supervision of Professor Pierre Paul Emile Roux According to Wikipedia “the Pasteur Institute (1853 – 1933), the General Director of the Paris of Paris is a French nonprofit private foundation Pasteur Institute of the time. The Iranian institute dedicated to the study of biology, microorganisms, was inaugurated 33 years after the original institute diseases, and vaccines. It is named after Louis was established in Paris on November 14, 1888. In this article, we will review briefly the founding Pasteur, its founder, and first director. It was of the Pasteur Institute of Iran, its early French founded on June 4, 1887 and inaugurated on directors and the main services it rendered in the November 14, 1888.”4 first four decades of its activity. This institute is one of the world’s leading Keywords: Pasteur Institute of Iran • Pasteur research centers of which eight scientists have Institute of Paris been awarded the Noble Prize since 1908. At present, the Pasteur Institute of Paris is associated Introduction with other research centers worldwide and is very he development of modern medical influential in combating infectious diseases practice and education in Iran was especially in developing countries including Iran. Tstarted with the establishment of the Dar al-Fonun School in Tehran due to the efforts of The foundation of the Pasteur Institute of Iran Mirza Taghi Khan Amir Kabir (1803 – 1851), the The establishment of the Pasteur Institute of reformist Prime Minster of Nasser ad-Din Shah Iran (Figure 1) was originally proposed by Nosrat 1 ad-Dowleh, the Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Qajar and was officially inaugurated in 1851 by 3 the Shah and his new Prime Minster Mirza Agha in 1918. Firouz Mirza Firouz bearing the title of Khan Nouri. In 1918, the medical branch of Dar al- Nosrat ad-Dowleh (1888 – 1938), obtained his Fonun became independent as the School of Doctorate in International Law from the French Medicine (Madreseh-ye Tebb) which was later University of Sorbonne and became the Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs, during the reign of incorporated into the Tehran University as its 5 medical college in 1934.2 Ahmad Shah Qajar. In 1919, an Iranian Delegate In addition to the establishment of Dar al- including Nosrat ad-Dowleh, Mohammad Ali Fonun, the founding of the Pasteur Institute of Iran Foroughi , Dr.Loghman Adham, Hakim ad- on August 1921 in Tehran was also instrumental in Dowleh, and Dr. Mahmoud Khan Moetamed the spread of modern medicine during the latter attended the Peace Conference in Paris and at that time they visited the Pasteur Institute of Paris and proposed to the Iranian government that a similar Authors’ affiliations: *ENT Private Clinic, **Academy of institute should be established in Tehran. 6 This Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. proposal was discussed at a ministerial meeting in •Corresponding author and reprints: Mohammad-Hossein Azizi MD, Second Floor, No. 6, Amir Ebrahimi St., Boostane 2, Tehran and was unanimously accepted and the Pasdaran Ave., Tehran, Iran. necessary steps were taken for its establishment. Telefax: +98-212-253-4338, E-mail: [email protected]. Accepted for publication: 18 June 2008 Following official agreement between Nosrat ad- Archives of Iranian Medicine, Volume 11, Number 4, July 2008 477 The establishment of the Pasteur Institute in Iran Figure 1. A view of Pasteur Institute of Iran. In the middle part, the statuette of Louis Pasteur (1822 – 1895), the founder and first director of the Pasteur Institute of Paris is seen. Dowleh and Dr. Rene Legroux on January 20, Roux and he came to Iran on August 1, 1920 and 1920, Professor Pierre Paul Emile Roux (1853 – held the post for 5 years before returning to France 1933), who was the General Director of the Paris in 1925.6,7,10,11 Pasteur Institute, introduced Dr. Joseph Mesnard to head the Iranian institute.3 He was employed by the 7 Dr. J. Kerandel Iranian government on April 8, 1920. Following Dr. Mesnard, the institute was run by Nosrat ad-Dowleh had persuaded his father the Iranian physician, Dr. Abolghasem Bahrami Abdol Hossein Mirza Farmanfarma (1856 – 1940), until the appointment of Dr. J. Kerandel by the the influential Iranian aristocrat, to bequeath ten Paris Institute. Dr. Kerandel arrived in Tehran on thousand square meters of his own property in September 1926 and stayed in Tehran until his Tehran as well as an endowment of ten thousand death from pneumonia on June 20, 1934. He was Tomans in addition to fifteen thousand Tomans buried in the catholic cemetery of Tehran in Akbar allocated by the Iranian government, for the Abad district. Under his directorship, the institute necessary buildings and running costs of the 8 was expanded to include vaccination department establishment of the Pasteur Institute of Iran. In with emphasis on smallpox as well as laboratories the bequeathal document dated 1923 (1302 Hejri and a library.6,8,11 Shamsi), Farmanfarma states his intentions for After the death of Dr. Kerandel, Dr.Hossein such a bequest as such: “As outbreaks of various Mashouf was appointed as the temporary director contagious and chronic diseases are common in of the institute.10,11 Iran and specifically in Tehran and whose prevention or treatment require injections which Dr. Marcel Baltazard needed to be imported from abroad...thus the The connection between the Paris and the establishment of the Pasture Institute will allow the Iranian institute was severed due to the outbreak of necessary serums and vaccines against such the Second World War until January 1946 when diseases as smallpox, plague, cholera, diphtheria, Dr. Marcel Baltazard (1908 – 1971) (Figure 2) was rabies and others to be manufactured at this 9 appointed and dispatched to Tehran by the Paris place.” Institute. He remained in Tehran as the head of the The French Directors of the Pasteur Institute of institute for more than 15 years (up to 1961) and Iran was instrumental in the further development and expansion of the Tehran Institute. He was a great Dr. Joseph Mesnard researcher especially in the field of fatal epidemic The first director of the institute was Dr. Joseph diseases. Dr. Baltazard died in Paris on the first of Mesnard who was recommended by Professor September, 1971 from lung cancer and a memorial 478 Archives of Iranian Medicine, Volume 11, Number 4, July 2008 M. H. Azizi, T. Nayernouri arrived in Tehran on August 12, 1946 and after discussions with the Iranian officials, drew up the new articles of association of the institute which was ratified by the Iranian Cabinet (Figure 3).6,8,11 The inauguration of the new building of the Tehran Institute On April 14, 1958, the new building complex of the Tehran Pasteur Institute was officially inaugurated by the Iranian and French authorities. The French delegation included Professor Vallery Radot and Roger Seydoux from the French Embassy in Tehran.11 The French President, Charles De Gaulle visited the Pasteur Institute of Iran on the request of Dr. Baltazard, in 1963. (Figure 4) Table 1 shows a summery of main events Figure 2. Dr. Marcel Baltazard10 related to the Pasteur Institute of Iran between 1919 and 1961.11 ceremony was held in Tehran in recognition of his great services to the Pasteur Institute of Iran.7,10 Some of the significant early achievements of After Dr. Baltazard, the first Iranian director of the Tehran Institute the Institute was Dr. Mehdi Ghodssi (1900 – 1991) who was appointed in 1961.6,8,10,11 Smallpox vaccine production The history of smallpox vaccination in Iran Change of articles of association of the institute dates back to the reign of Fathali Shah Qajar (1797 After the end of the Second World War, on the – 1834). According to Dr. F. Adamyiat, the request of the Iranian Minister of Health, a English physician Dr. John Cormick who was the delegation was sent to Iran by the Paris Pasteur personal physician to Abbas Mirza, the Crown Institute in 1946, for renovation of the Tehran Prince, had written a treatise on smallpox which Institute. This delegation headed by Professor was subsequently published but it was by the order Pasteur Vallery Radot (the grandson of Louis of Mirza Taghi Khan Amir Kabir (see above) that Pasteur) and accompanied by Professor R. Legroux public vaccination against smallpox became law. (honorary director of the Iran Pasteur Institute), Dr. Jacob Eduard Polak (1818 – 1891), the Figure 4. The French President, Charles De Gaulle Figure 3. Professor Legroux (sitting), Dr. Baltazard visited the Pasteur Institute of Iran on the request of (on the right side), Dr Shamsa, Dr. Bahmanyar and Dr. Baltazard, in 1963, Dr. Baltazard is seen on the Dr. Seyyedian are also seen.10 right side.10 Archives of Iranian Medicine, Volume 11, Number 4, July 2008 479 The establishment of the Pasteur Institute in Iran Table1. A summery of main events related to the Pasteur Institute of Iran between 1919 and 1961.* Date Event October 23, 1919 Meeting of Professor Roux, the Director of Pasteur Institute of Paris and Iranian delegation January 20, 1920** An agreement was made between Dr.